Schools to be roped in to check underage driving

HYDERABAD: Youngsters eager to enjoy a drive in their swanky bikes will have to wait until they are 18 years of age. With city traffic deciding to crack the whip on underage driving, the focus is now on creating awareness among parents and schools to counsel children about dangers of rash driving and over-speeding.“Though transport department officials have booked cases on underage drivers caught during checking, it is the duty of parents to prevent their kids from racing on city streets. Besides, we will write to all school managements to create awareness among parents. We also plan to take stern action on underage driving through a special drive from August,” D Panduranga Rao, joint commissioner, Regional Transport Authority told Express. With the recent spurt in road accidents where youngsters were involved or were victims, traffic police have now decided to act strict on the menace. Reportedly, traffic police have issued more challans to youngsters speeding or violating traffic rules in the first six months of 2011 than last year. For instance, a speeding car carrying three teenagers and allegedly driven by an underage boy met with a fatal mishap on the Outer Ring road, while in another incident,  KM Ruthvik, a 15-year-old student died, when his bike rammed the divider on Medchal highway. “We do not blame the children. Parents should not allow an underage kid to drive. Last year, we booked cases on underage drivers and provided counselling to parents. This year, we will take stern action on youngsters flouting rules,’’ said GVG Ashok Kumar, deputy commissioner of police (Traffic). Police will also send notices to schools, asking them to discourage teenagers from driving without licence. This year, for June and July, 31  cases have been registered.